misremember: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “misremember” mean?
To remember something incorrectly or inaccurately.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To remember something incorrectly or inaccurately.
To have a false or distorted recollection of past events, facts, or details.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant dialectal difference in meaning or usage. The term is used in both varieties.
Connotations
Can carry a slightly formal or technical nuance. In political discourse, it is sometimes used euphemistically or to challenge the accuracy of a speaker's claim.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both varieties, more common in academic, legal, or analytical writing than in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “misremember” in a Sentence
[Subject] misremember(s) [Object][Subject] misremember(s) [that-clause][Subject] misremember(s) [wh-clause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “misremember” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'm afraid you misremember the sequence of events.
- Witnesses can misremember crucial details years later.
- She confessed she had misremembered the date.
American English
- I think you misremember what was decided at the meeting.
- It's common for people to misremember their childhood.
- He may have misremembered the license plate number.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in discussions of contract details or meeting minutes: 'We must check the records; I may have misremembered the agreed terms.'
Academic
Common in psychology, history, and law: 'The study shows how witnesses can misremember crucial details under stress.'
Everyday
Used to correct oneself or others politely: 'Sorry, I think I misremembered the time you said you'd arrive.'
Technical
Used in forensic psychology and memory research: 'The phenomenon where people misremember the source of a memory is called source confusion.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “misremember”
- Using 'misremember' to mean 'forget' (e.g., 'I misremembered to call you' is incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'mis-remember' (the standard spelling is without a hyphen).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it can be used euphemistically in politics, its core meaning is an unintentional failure of accurate recall, not deliberate deception.
'Forget' means to fail to remember something at all. 'Misremember' means to remember something, but to remember it inaccurately.
Yes, though less common. E.g., 'I think I am misremembering how the machine works.' It is more frequently used in simple past or present perfect.
No, it dates back to at least the 16th century. It saw a notable surge in public use in the early 21st century in certain political contexts.
To remember something incorrectly or inaccurately.
Misremember is usually neutral to formal in register.
Misremember: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪs.rɪˈmem.bər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪs.rɪˈmem.bɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MIS-taken REMEMBERing' = MISREMEMBER.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A RECORD (a faulty record), MEMORY IS A STORY (a story that can be edited incorrectly).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'misremember' primarily imply?